Priest bought the 2.2-acre parcel in 2001. He paid $348,000 for the land after the city spent more than $6 million to acquire and clear the site and relocate tenants. Priest said he has spent more than $4.5 million to construct the buildings.

Priest built 28 townhomes, but construction of the commercial complex was delayed when the economy slowed and Priest went through a divorce. Cooksy said Priest still owes the city $160,000 for sidewalk improvements in front of the project.

Last summer, Priest proposed locating Liberty Charter School at the building, a prospect that horrified some merchants who said a school wasn’t a good fit for downtown El Cajon. Now Priest says he is back to seeking businesses, although he said he is still negotiating with school officials.